The Hollow Rebirth

Lian Qin Yu took her time absorbing the painful memories that flooded her subconscious, not hers, but those of the young girl whose body she now inhabited: a slave in the brutal mines of Zhufeng (Crimson Peaks) on the continent of Xuantu (Profound Earth).

She was deemed dead, a victim of a cave-in, hence the pile of bodies. This Lian Qin Yu's life had been one of unending toil and suffering, marked by cruelty and hardship, a life lived in the shadow of oppression.

Through her memories, she learned of a vast immortal world, a realm of cultivation, spiritual power, and endless conflict, a world vastly different from the one she had left behind.

The previous owner, originally from the remote village of Yinxiao (Silver Ripple), had been falsely accused of theft and sold into slavery, becoming the property of a ruthless mining lord. She had been killed during a recent collapse, and now, her body was being hastily disposed of like so many others before her.

Playing dead, Lian Qin Yu, within this new vessel, allowed herself to take in everything. Xuantu, she learned, was a continent steeped in ancient magic and immortal cultivators, where strength was everything and the weak were mercilessly crushed.

The mine where she lay was a particularly brutal one, known for its harsh overseers and the unforgiving nature of the work.

The initial pain subsided, though it left behind a dull ache. The memory of this vessel's life was painful but also a gift. The previous owner knew the mine, its hidden passages, its unguarded corners... so why had she never attempted to escape?

"Well, that didn't matter right now. If there was a reason, I will find out in the future, anyway. At this moment, I should be thinking about how to escape unnoticed," she muttered under her breath.

Lian Qin Yu, using her newfound knowledge, felt a surge of determination. She had to be smart, her body was weak, but her mind was sharp. If she could move undetected, she might just have a chance.

The first few steps were agony. Her frail body, weakened from years of brutal labor, protested with every movement. Each breath felt like pulling shards of glass from her lungs. Her soul, a forceful current in a battered vessel, struggled to find balance.

She stumbled, her legs buckling beneath her, new memories flooding her consciousness with each jarring fall. "This body… it's broken, a complete wreck," she hissed through clenched teeth. "Damn it! Get your ass moving… don't get me caught."

The escape route, a narrow crevice she recalled from the previous owner's memories, seemed miles away.

The Shewa (Serpent Hollow) itself was a monstrous structure carved into the very heart of the mountain. Its tunnels were a claustrophobic labyrinth of twisting corridors and narrow shafts, lit by flickering torches that cast long, dancing shadows.

The air was thick with dust, the metallic tang of blood, and the ever-present smell of fear. The walls were slick with moisture, the ground uneven and treacherous underfoot. The architecture itself felt oppressive, a monument to human suffering.

She moved cautiously. The air hung heavy with the scent of iron ore, sweat, and despair. Giant support beams, scarred and soot-stained, held up the cavernous ceilings, their shadows stretching into the darkness like the skeletal arms of some subterranean giant.

Everywhere, the sounds of picks and shovels echoed each strike a reminder of the ceaseless toil that defined life within these walls. The floor was uneven and treacherous, littered with discarded tools and loose rocks, a landscape of potential peril.

Her goal was clear: the escape route. A narrow fissure concealed behind a pile of rubble. It was her only hope.

She inched forward, pushing aside loose stones, her weakened body trembling with the effort. The pain was relentless, a constant companion, but she pressed on, fueled by an unyielding need for freedom.

Her breath hitched as she froze mid-step.

A sound.

Heavy. Measured. Menacing.

Guards.

She pressed herself into the shadows, willing her presence to vanish into the darkness.

Their boots struck the ground with rhythmic precision, the unmistakable march of those who had long since lost their humanity.

"Nothing here. Just the usual filth," one of them grumbled, his voice rough like gravel.

"Still, the overseer doesn't like surprises. He wants a full sweep. That cave-in took too many. If one of those rats is alive, we end it now."

Lian Qin Yu bit down on her lip, resisting the urge to curse. Move. Hide. Now.

She darted into a narrow side passage, her body scraping against the rough stone walls. Her heart pounded like a war drum, the echoes of her breaths too loud in her ears.

The guards were close. Too close.

Then, it happened.

A low rumble shook the tunnels.

A section of the wall near her crumbled.

Through the dust and shifting stones, a hidden passage revealed itself... one the acquired memories had never shown.

Then, in the dim torchlight, a shadow moved.

A large, sinuous form whipped past her, its presence stirring the loose debris into a mini-landslide. The shifting rocks blocked the passage behind her, sealing her away from the approaching guards.

Lian Qin Yu didn't see what it was. But she knew it had saved her.

As she crouched in the darkness, she felt a warmth. A familiar presence stirred deep within her soul.

The guards cursed, their lanterns casting grotesque shadows that danced on the walls.

"Ugh, another collapse? Damn it. We'll report this later."

They left.

The moment their steps faded into the distance, Lian Qin Yu exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

Relief surged through her, quickly replaced by a sense of urgency.

Move. Now.

The final stretch was a blur of pain and desperation. She crawled, stumbled, and fell, each movement agonizing, each breath a struggle.

Just as she reached the crevice, she heard the guards' voices again, much closer this time.

Without hesitation, she squeezed into a narrow opening, nearby.

Sharp rock edges bit into her skin. The pressure was suffocating. She gritted her teeth and pushed forward.

Then… something shifted.

The passage widened.

A subtle shift.

An unseen force guided her.

She tumbled through, landing with a jarring thud on the soft earth beyond.

She didn't know it then, but the white-golden Dragon, her guardian beast, had subtly manipulated the earth and rocks, clearing her path and shielding her from detection.

She was safe.

For now.

She had escaped.

As she emerged from the mine, harsh sunlight seared her vision. Her body was bruised and aching, but her spirit was unbroken.

Behind her, the towering maw of Shewa stood defiant against the azure sky.

Before she lay a path far more treacherous than the mine: the Netherworld Abyss... a place where legends whispered of horrors that made the mines seem tame.

But there was no other choice.

She had to lose her pursuers.

She had to survive.

This was her only chance.

A perilous path. But it was hers.

The path to her new beginning.

Pain and exhaustion threatened to overwhelm her, but Lian Qin Yu clenched her fists.

The next step?

Heal. Survive.

And never... never... be caged again.